Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Words of Wisdom: Vignette #1

God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit - - - Words
of Wisdom Vignettes

These vignettes, scattered throughout the book from which every one of these pieces are drawn, are short recitations based on a quotation: “words of wisdom” from Scripture,
or from other people much smarter than I am…

Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me
back to fight the Ammonites and theLordgives them to me—will I really
be your head?” - Judges
11:9

After twelve (count ‘em, twelve) betrayals from His
people for other pagan deities just since Moses led them out of Egypt a few
centuries before, you can completely understand God saying, “You have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no
longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them
save you!” (Judges 10:13-14).

But of course, He sent yet another rescuer to Israel’s aid,
this time a son of Gilead and a prostitute named Jephthah. Maltreated and run
off from the family as a child, he’s understandably wary when the elders come
to him (at the Lord’s indication, of course – He always has had a soft spot for
the supposed ‘dregs’ of society!) and asked him to command their forces against
the Ammonites oppressing the people. They assure him they mean it, and he’s willing
to accept their offer pending the answer to the pivotal question above.

And, essentially, isn’t it the same question that Christ asks
every new Christian believer? “Suppose
I give you salvation from the damnation your sins have earned you. Will I really
be your head? That is, will you really allow Christ to be in charge
of your heart, your thoughts, and your life? Or are you just planning to pay
lip service to worshiping Him – show up to church most Sunday mornings, put a
fish on your back windshield and a cross in your hallway, and call it good?

Look at it from
Jephthah’s perspective: If they were
going to let him save them but not give him actual command, why in the
world would he agree to the deal?

Now, translate it
to Jesus’ perspective: If you’re going
to let Him save you but not give him actual command, why in heaven would
HE agree, either?

There’s a reason we call Jesus Christ our Lord. If
you are truly a Christian, if you’re
planning on being recognized by Him at the gates of heaven when you die, then
you must honor your part of the deal. Give Him command. Listen to his commandments (hint – they’re
written down in a Book…) and obey them… not just the Ten Big Ones in the
Old Testament, but all of Christ’s teachings in the New. And most of
those require taking your own priorities off the mantle, and putting His
there instead. (Yes, it’s
difficult. All worthwhile things are.)

Translations available here:

Sites we recommend -

Bible Hub (www.biblehub.com) and Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) are two of the best websites (and phone apps!) available today for your portable Bible-reading and reference needs! We highly recommend either of them!

As eschatologists ourselves, we suggest taking a look at this website called Daniel 11 (www.daniel11truth.org) for some extremely important insight into the Second Coming - which is closer than you think...

Finally, bookmark the website of your home church and reference it often. If you don't have a home church, it's absolutely critical that you find one that is based on the Bible, that preaches the Gospel first and foremost, and that shares the love of Christ that you should already have. Look around in your town or neighborhood. Don't be afraid to ask at a church you're unfamiliar with - what's your guiding principle? Don't settle for the church on the corner because it's close: Christ insisted we align ourselves with other believers, and the entire New Testament warns against apostasy (the teachings of false teachers) which is ALL around us, believe me! Look carefully, but FIND one.